COMSOL 6.4 - Electrowetting Lens

The contact angle of a two-fluid interface with a solid surface is determined by the balance of the forces at the contact point. The equilibrium contact angle, θ0, is given by Young’s equation:

(1)

Here γs1 is the surface energy per unit area between fluid 1 and the solid surface, γs2 is the surface energy per unit area between fluid 2 and the solid surface, and σ12 is the surface tension at the interface between the two fluids.

In electrowetting the balance of forces at the contact point is modified by the application of a voltage between a conducting fluid and the solid surface. In many applications the solid surface consists of a thin dielectric deposited onto a conducting layer; this is often referred to as “Electrowetting on Dielectric” (EWOD). In this case the capacitance of the dielectric layer dominates over the double layer capacitance at the solid-liquid interface (Ref. 1). The energy stored in the capacitor formed between the conducting liquid and the conducting layer in the solid reduces the effective surface energy of the liquid to which the voltage is applied. If there is a voltage difference between fluid 1 and the conductor beyond the dielectric, Young’s equation is modified as follows:

(2)

Here ε is the permittivity of the dielectric, V is the potential difference applied, and df is the dielectric thickness. Combining Equation 1 and Equation 2 yields

(3)

Electrowetting can therefore be used to modify the contact angle dynamically by changing the voltage applied to the conducting liquid.

In this example, the meniscus between two immiscible liquids is used as an optical lens. A change in curvature of the meniscus caused by the electrowetting effect is used to change the focal length of the lens over a large range. This model is based on the work of the Philips FluidFocus team (Ref. 2). The principle of the device is illustrated in Figure 1 and the miniature, variable focus camera developed around the technology is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1: (A) Schematic cross section of the Philips FluidFocus lens. (B) When a voltage is applied, the electrowetting effect alters the contact angle and hence the focal distance of the lens. (C) to (E) Shapes of a 6-mm diameter lens taken at 0 V, 100 V and 120 V respectively. Diagrams and photos: Philips.

Figure 2: The miniature variable focus lens and the camera that was developed to contain it. Photo: Philips.

Model Definition

The model consists of a sealed chamber with radius 1.5 mm filled with two immiscible liquids. Because the geometry is cylindrical, the axisymmetric geometry shown in Figure 3 can be used.

The lower fluid in Figure 3 is a conducting solution of lithium chloride, with a density of 1000 kg/m3 and a viscosity of 1.5 mPa·s. The upper fluid is insulating, with a matching density and a viscosity that is altered by varying its composition to optimize the camera performance. The surface tension at the interface between the two fluids is 50 mN/m.

The walls of the cylinder are coated with 3 μm of paylene N (relative dielectric constant, 2.65). Because this layer is thin it is not modeled explicitly in COMSOL and Equation 3 is used for the contact angle. The contact angle of the fluid in the absence of applied voltage is 140°. In this model the response of the fluid surface is modeled as a function of time after the voltage is switched from 100 V to 120 V.

It is desired to optimize the viscosity of the insulating fluid to achieve a fast response time for the switching of the lens, so the time dependent switching of the system is studied. Viscosities of 10 mPa·s, 30 mPa·s, and 50 mPa·s are investigated.

Figure 3: Axisymmetric model geometry.

Results and Discussion

When the voltage is switched the contact angle of the fluid changes abruptly but the system takes some time to respond to the change in the force at the contact point. The resonant modes of the interface are excited by this disturbance and, depending on the system damping, the oscillations of the interface take some time to decay. The higher-order modes are damped out more rapidly than the fundamental mode, but are apparent in the plots shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, which show the fluid velocity and pressure respectively 2 ms after the voltage is switched.

Figure 4: Fluid velocity magnitude (color) and direction (arrows) for a lens 2ms after the voltage is switched from 100 V to 120 V. The viscosity of the insulating fluid is 10 mPa·s.

Figure 5: Pressure in the fluid (color) and velocity of the boundary (arrows) for a lens 2 ms after the voltage is switched from 100 V to 120 V. The viscosity of the insulating fluid is 10 mPa·s.

Clearly for optimum performance of the lens, the oscillation of the meniscus should be damped out as rapidly as possible; the system should therefore be critically damped. Because the viscosity of the insulating fluid can be altered by changing its composition, it is possible to adjust the damping and hence to produce a lens with the fastest possible response time. Figure 6 shows the response of the system for three different values of the viscosity of the insulating fluid. From this plot it is clear that a viscosity of 50 mPa·s produces a system that is close to being critically damped.

Figure 6: Location of the center of the meniscus as a function of time for different values of the viscosity of the insulating fluid.

References

1. F. Mugele and J.-C. Baret, “Electrowetting: from basics to applications,” J. Phys. Condens. Matter, vol. 17, pp. R705–R774, 2005.

2. S. Kuiper and B.W. Hendriks, “Variable focus lens for miniature cameras,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 85, no. 7, pp. 1128–1130, 2004. See also: www.philips.com/a-w/about/innovation.html

Microfluidics_Module/Two-Phase_Flow/electrowetting_lens

Modeling Instructions

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New

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Model Wizard

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Geometry 1

Define the model geometry.

In the window, under click .

In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

Rectangle 1 (r1)

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In the window for , locate the section.

In the text field, type 1.5.

Click to expand the section. In the table, enter the following settings:


Layer name	Thickness (mm)
Layer 1	0.55

Global Definitions

Parameters 1

In the window, under click .

In the window for , locate the section.

In the table, enter the following settings:


Name	Expression	Value	Description
theta0	140[deg]	2.4435 rad	Zero voltage contact angle
gamma	0.05[N/m]	0.05 N/m	Surface tension
muoil	8e-3[Pa*s]	0.008 Pa·s	Insulating fluid viscosity
epsr	2.65	2.65	Relative dielectric constant
d_f	3[um]	3E-6 m	Dielectric thickness
Vapp	120[V]	120 V	Applied voltage

Define the contact angle according to Equation 3.

Definitions

Variables 1

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In the window for , locate the section.

In the table, enter the following settings:


Name	Expression	Unit	Description
theta	acos(cos(theta0)+Vapp^2epsrepsilon0_const/(2gammad_f))	rad	Contact angle

Set up material properties.

Materials

Insulating fluid

In the window, under right-click and choose .

In the window for , type Insulating fluid in the text field.

Locate the section. Click

Select Domain 2 only.

Locate the section. In the table, enter the following settings:


Property	Variable	Value	Unit	Property group
Density	rho	1000	kg/m³	Basic
Dynamic viscosity	mu	muoil	Pa·s	Basic

Lithium chloride solution

Right-click and choose .

In the window for , type Lithium chloride solution in the text field.

Select Domain 1 only.

Locate the section. In the table, enter the following settings:


Property	Variable	Value	Unit	Property group
Density	rho	1000	kg/m³	Basic
Dynamic viscosity	mu	1.5e-3	Pa·s	Basic

Define the physics settings for the problem. Boundary conditions must be applied for both the moving mesh and the fluid flow.

Select the boundary condition for the two phase boundary.

Laminar Flow (spf)

Fluid-Fluid Interface 1

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and choose .

Select Boundary 4 only.

In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose . In the σ text field, type gamma.

Define the contact angle settings at the wall fluid interface.

Contact Angle 1

In the window, expand the node, then click .

In the window for , locate the section.

In the θw text field, type theta.

Locate the section. Select the checkbox.

The option for the boundary condition must be used in the moving mesh interface for a boundary on which a contact point moves. Use this condition for the wall on which the electrowetting effect occurs.

Wall 2

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and choose .

Select Boundaries 6 and 7 only.

In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

Apply a so that the pressure is constrained.

Pressure Point Constraint 1

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and choose .

Select Point 6 only.

Set up the mesh deformation boundary conditions.

Moving Mesh

Symmetry/Roller 1

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Select Boundaries 1, 3, 6, and 7 only.

Quadrilateral elements are used for the mesh as they are typically stiffer and hence less susceptible to inverted elements than triangular elements. The mesh is also scaled at the contact point to improve the accuracy of the simulation.

Mesh 1

Scale 1

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and choose .

In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

Select Point 5 only.

Locate the section. In the text field, type 0.2.

Size

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In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

Free Quad 1

In the toolbar, click

In the window for , click

Define a nonlocal integration coupling that can be used to compute the height of the center of the meniscus above the base of the lens.

Definitions

Integration 1 (intop1)

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and choose .

In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

Select Boundary 1 only.

Locate the section. Clear the checkbox.

Add a on the viscosity of the insulating fluid.

Study 1

Parametric Sweep

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Click

In the table, enter the following settings:


Parameter name	Parameter value list	Parameter unit
muoil (Insulating fluid viscosity)	10e-3 30e-3 50e-3	Pa*s

Solve the problem over an appropriate time interval.

Step 1: Time Dependent

In the window, click .

In the window for , locate the section.

In the text field, type range(0,1e-3,5e-2).

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Results

Velocity (spf)

Reproduce the plot shown in Figure 4. Note that to display the deformed geometry the plot should be viewed in the default spatial reference frame rather than in the material frame.

In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

Locate the section. Select the checkbox.

Select the checkbox.

In the text field, type r (mm).

In the text field, type z (mm).

Arrow Surface 1

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In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

In the toolbar, click

Click the

button in the toolbar.

Reproduce the plot shown in Figure 5.

Pressure (spf)

In the window, under click .

In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

Locate the section. Select the checkbox.

Select the checkbox.

In the text field, type r (mm).

In the text field, type z (mm).

Arrow Line 1

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In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

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Click the

button in the toolbar.

2D Plot Group 5

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Surface 1

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In the window for , locate the section.

In the text field, type spf.rho.

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Velocity, 3D (spf)

Reproduce the plot shown in Figure 6. The integration operator intop1(1) is used to integrate unity along the centerline of the lens, to compute the height of the meniscus as a function of time.

1D Plot Group 6

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In the window for , locate the section.

From the list, choose .

Locate the section.

Select the checkbox. In the associated text field, type Height of the meniscus (mm).

Global 1

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In the window for , locate the section.

In the table, enter the following settings:


Expression	Unit	Description
intop1(1)	mm	Meniscus height

Locate the section. From the list, choose .

From the list, choose .

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